Indians slide continues

SPOKANE — G.K. Young hit a three-run home run in the top of the third inning, sparking a six-run inning as the Tri-City Dust Devils beat the Spokane Indians 9-3 in Northwest League baseball in front of 6,919 at Avista Stadium on Saturday.

Spokane (9-20 second half) has now lost nine straight games, and 15 of its last 17 overall.

Three Tri-City (12-17) pitchers combined to hold Spokane to four hits, with Adrian De Horta pitching four innings of scoreless relief to get the win.

Kyle Cody allowed eight earned runs for Spokane in the loss.

The teams conclude the three-game series today at 3:30.

Before the game, the Spokane Indians announced they have reached an agreement on a two-year Player Development Contract with the Texas Rangers, keeping the Indians as the Short Season “A” affiliate of the Rangers through the 2018 season.

“We are happy to extend our relationship with the Texas Rangers,” Indians general manager Chris Duff said. “The last 14 years have been some of the most successful in team history and we look forward to what the future holds for both the Indians and the Rangers.”

In the 14 seasons that the Indians and Rangers have been affiliated, Spokane has won three Northwest League championships (2003, 2005, and 2008) and led the league in attendance 13 times. Since the 2003 season, 67 former Indians have made it to the major leagues, including All-Stars Ian Kinsler, Odubel Herrera, Neftali Feliz and emerging young players like Jurickson Profar and Rougned Odor.

The affiliation — which will reach 16 straight seasons in 2018 — is set to become the longest in franchise history, eclipsing the 15 consecutive years the Indians were affiliated with the Dodgers from 1958-1972.